1.1.3 Synthesizing Physical and Human Factors Notes

Both Physical and Human Factors Must Be Considered When Analyzing Population Patterns

1. Human and Physical factors must never be examined in isolation.
2. They almost certainly influence, and act in tandem.

Uneven Distribution and Internal Migration in China

Physical Factors

1. High Population Density in the East
   1. Eastern China is characterized by fertile plains, such as the North China Plain, which supports large-scale agriculture.
   2. Major rivers, including the Yangtze River and Yellow River, provide essential water resources for farming, transportation, and industrial development.
   3. Coastal areas like the Pearl River Delta and the Yangtze River Delta also benefit from a temperate climate conducive to farming and year-round economic activity.

1. Sparse Population in the West
   1. The western regions of China, such as Tibet and Xinjiang, are dominated by harsh physical conditions, including arid deserts (e.g., the Gobi Desert) and rugged mountain ranges (e.g., the Himalayas).
   2. Limited arable land and extreme climatic conditions make these regions unsuitable for large-scale human settlement or intensive agriculture.

Human Factors

1. Economic Growth in Coastal Regions
   1. Coastal cities such as Shanghai, Shenzhen, and Guangzhou have experienced rapid industrialization, attracting migrant workers from rural areas seeking employment opportunities.
   2. These cities serve as hubs for export-driven manufacturing and global trade.
   3. Special Economic Zones (SEZs), like those in Shenzhen, have driven economic prosperity and created high concentrations of jobs, further encouraging migration.

1. Government Policies
   1. The Hukou system (household registration system) has historically restricted internal migration by tying access to social services (e.g., education, healthcare) to a person’s registered birthplace.
   2. This has created disparities between rural and urban populations.

Statistics and Trends

1. Scale of Migration
   1. Between 1990 and 2020, over 250 million people migrated from rural areas to urban-industrial complexes, primarily in eastern and southeastern China.
   2. This massive migration constitutes one of the largest internal migration flows in human history.
   3. By 2020, over 290 million people were classified as migrant workers, accounting for nearly 20% of China’s population.

1. Urbanization Rates
   1. In 1980, only 19.6% of China’s population lived in urban areas. By 2020, this figure had risen to over 60%, highlighting the rapid urbanization driven by economic and industrial growth.
   2. Key urban regions like the Yangtze River Delta Megacity Cluster and the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (Pearl River Delta) now account for significant portions of China’s GDP and population.

Impacts of Internal Migration

1. Positive Impacts
   1. Migrant labor has fueled economic growth, particularly in the manufacturing and service sectors.
   2. Migrants often send domestic remittances back to rural areas, helping to reduce poverty and improve living standards.

1. Negative Impacts
   1. Urban areas have faced challenges such as overcrowding, rising housing costs, and strain on public services.
   2. Migrants often lack access to social welfare and education due to Hukou restrictions, leading to inequality and social tensions.

The Bottom Line

1. The uneven distribution of China’s population is heavily influenced by economic growth and government policies.
2. Internal migration has played a crucial role in transforming the country’s economy and urban landscape but continues to pose challenges related to inequality and urban management.